Golf Training Tee

ABSTRACT

A device for training a golfer to properly position his/her head during a golf swing by coupling a golf tee having a flared end for receiving a golf ball and a conical end for insertion into the ground to a flat member that is connected at or near the flared end of the tee and is hidden from view by a ball on the tee as a golfer is preparing to hit the ball. In use a golfer will not see any part of the flat member up to and including the striking of the golf ball when the golfer&#39;s head is positioned correctly throughout the swing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a training and practice device for golfers, and more particularly to a golf training tee which enables a golfer to correctly align himself with respect to a golf ball and thereby swing the club through an optimum swing pattern in hitting the ball. The golf tee has a flat disc shaped member which is hidden from view by a ball on the tee as a golfer is preparing to hit the ball. When the golfer's head is positioned correctly throughout the swing the golfer will not see any part of the flat member up to and including the striking of the golf ball.

2. Description of Related Art

A variety of golf teaching aids is available to golfers to help them with their swing. Golf indicating devices, feet and ball positioning devices for golfers and other structures relating to golf instruction improvement means are known in the prior art. More specifically, by way of example U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,576 to Froggatte relates to a guide that helps a golfer assume a proper golf swing stance. A coupling joins first and second elongated members with their axes in perpendicular relationship. The second member overlies the first. The coupling is slidably disposed on the first member and the second member is slidably disposed on the coupling. The first member provides a visual aid for the alignment of the golfer's feet parallel to an imaginary target line and the second member provides a visual aid positioning the ball in the stance and for squaring the face of the club to the ball at the point of impact.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,937 to Whelan relates to a golf swing training apparatus having a base that has a top surface which has a slot. A cover is movably mounted on the base and has a top surface with a second slot. The second slot on the cover is vertically aligned with the first slot on the base when the cover is mounted on the base. A light source is positioned in the base and transmits light through the first and second slots toward the eyes of a user. A number of color strips are positioned within the first slot such that the color of light seen by the user will vary depending upon the lateral position of the user's head relative to the center line of the second slot.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,866 to McDaniel, et al. relates to a golf aid having a horizontally elongated body with a top surface, bottom surface, front surface, back surface and two opposing end surfaces. A plurality of lines are disposed upon the front, top and back surfaces. Two holes located adjacent to each end are defined between the top and bottom surfaces. The vertical element of a stabilizer having a vertical element and a horizontal element is inserted into each hole.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,346,050 to Larson relates to a golf swing training device and method that is designed to improve a golfer's swing plane, alignment, balance, swing tempo and ball placement skills. The device includes an alignment shaft to act as an aid in aligning the golfer relative to the target, and a template shaft and template for helping a golfer to swing at a desired angle.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,261,189 to Saville, et al. relates to a monitored a golfer swinging a golf club through a tee area while standing on a platform that has a tee manipulation mechanism. Six or more infrared (IR) transmitters transmit IR beams along predetermined lines in close proximity to the tee area. Each predetermined line defines a portion of three-dimensional space critical to the optimization of the golf swing. IR sensors receive the IR beams. Each pair of IR sensors provides an output signal indicative of improper club shaft or body positioning. If the three-dimensional area of optimization is violated, a triggering mechanism within the platform on which the golfer stands removes the golf ball from the path of the club head thereby not allowing the golfer to strike the golf ball.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,115 to Sanchez, et al. relates to a golf swing training device having a position sensing unit, a tee mounted on a tee platform and a visual and audio response unit. A taut, movable cord is attached to the hip of the golfer and to the position sensing unit. The position sensing unit generates forward, rearward and fore-strike position signals based upon a forward optimal position, a rearward optimal position and an excessive forward position of the hip of the golfer. The visual and audio response unit, located adjacent to the tee platform, visually indicates to the golfer when his or her hips exceed the forward optimal position, and the rearward optimal position. The method includes providing a taut, movable cord attached to the hip of the golfer, sensing the forward and rearward movement of the hip based upon the position of a reference point on the cord and with respect to a fixed, neutral position, generating a first and a second visual signal to the golfer when the golfer's hips respectively move beyond a forward optimal position and a rearward optimal position, and generating an audible signal when the golfer's hips move beyond an excessive forward position indicating an ideal hip position immediately prior to striking the ball. This audio signal provides positive feedback to the golfer.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,407 to Beatty relates to a training aid which is placed on the ground, near the feet of the golfer as he addresses the ball to assist the golfer in obtaining correct alignment and swing of the golf club. The device includes a plurality of thin, flexible polymeric strips which are fastened to the ground by small stakes which are positioned through apertures within the strips. The strips are stabilized on the ground in one or more patterns depending on the club selected and to furnish to the golfer a clear visual indication of his stance and club alignment relative to the ball and the intended direction of travel of the ball before, during an after contact between the club and ball.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,428 to Goodwin, et al. relates to a housing having a channel for variably mounting the housing on a golf club in at least a first position and a second position. A transducer is included in the housing for monitoring deviations of golf club travel from a linear direction during a golf stroke when the housing is mounted on the golf club in the first position, and for monitoring acceleration of the golf club through a golf ball during a golf stroke when the housing is mounted on the golf club in the second position. A buzzer and a light source is energized for providing the golfer with feedback indicative of the deviations or acceleration.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,526 to Wollstein relates to an indoor golf game including a hole layout area enclosed by netting and a substantially planar rigid or solid rebound surface. A ball is hit from a tee in the hole layout area towards the rebound surface so as to rebound towards a hole in the green area of the hole layout. The ball used in the game has a hard surface so as to provide a feel of a standard golf ball, but a resilience substantially less than a standard golf ball so that the ball resiliently deforms and loses substantial kinetic energy upon striking the rebound surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,057 to Brown relates to perfecting a golfer's backswing so that his club swings close to the ground. The apparatus includes a base to which a pivoting flap and a golf tee are mounted. The flap is positioned on a swing arm rotatably mounted with respect to the tee. The flap remains in a vertical position until struck by a golf club during a golfer's backswing whereupon the flap moves to a horizontal position to allow the golfer to continue to move the club in the proper path during his forward swing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed a device for training a golfer to properly position the golfer's head during a golf swing comprising:

-   -   a golf tee having a flared end for receiving a golf ball and a         conical end for insertion into the ground; and     -   a flat member coupled to the tee and having a size that is         hidden from view by a ball on the tee as a golfer is preparing         to hit the ball;     -   wherein a golfer will not see any part of the flat member up to         and including the striking of the golf ball when the golfer's         head is positioned correctly throughout the swing.

In another embodiment of the invention there is disclosed a method for training a golfer to properly position his/her head during a golf swing comprises:

-   -   providing a golf tee having a flared end for receiving a golf         ball and a conical end for insertion into the ground; and     -   coupling a flat member to the tee that is hidden from view by a         ball on the tee as a golfer is preparing to hit the ball;     -   wherein a golfer will not see any part of the flat member up to         and including the striking of the golf ball when the golfer's         head is positioned correctly throughout the swing.

The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claim, and the accompanying drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the golf training tee in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view looking down at the golf training tee;

FIG. 3 is a view looking down at the golf training tee with a golf ball located on the tee;

FIG. 4 illustrates a golfer near the start of his/her swing;

FIG. 5 illustrates a golfer further on the down stroke of his/her swing;

FIG. 6 illustrates a detail of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a detail of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

One aspect of a golfer's swing is the extent that the golfer positions his head relative to the golf ball. It is considered recommended form that the golfer's head should be positioned above the golf ball and looking at the golf ball through the down stroke of his swing. Furthermore the golfer should continue to look at the former position of the golf ball immediately after the golf ball is struck. While this is only one aspect of the proper swing, it is an important aspect that golfers often have difficulty in achieving.

FIG. 1 is a top view of the golf training tee. The golf training tee consists of a golf tee 100 having a flared top section 102 with a concave top surface 104 for receiving a golf ball and a bottom section 106 having a cone shaped end for insertion into the ground. Located about one-third down from the top of the tee is a disc 108 which is eccentrically attached to the tee. The diameter of the disc has a size that it is hidden from view by the ball on the tee as a golfer is preparing to hit the ball.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is a view looking down at the top of the golf training tee. A golf ball has a diameter of about one and five-eighths of an inch. Therefore, the diameter of the disc 108 can be between one and one-half inches and one and one-eighth inches. A preferred diameter of the disc is one and one-quarter inches.

If it is assumed that the disc has an east-west axis of X-X and a north-south axis of Y-Y, the longitudinal axis of the tee can be located on the Y-Y axis and at a location that is south of the X-X axis by a distance of between two-eighths of an inch and three-eighths of an inch where the disc has a diameter of about one and one-quarter inches. For convenience the south most end of the Y-Y axis is assigned the reference numeral 200. This is the part of the disc that is positioned to be closest to the golfer when the golfer is swinging from east to west along the X-X axis for a right handed golfer.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a view looking straight down at the top of the golf training tee with a golf ball 114 located on the tee where the tee 100 and disc 108 which are hidden by the golf ball 114 are shown as dashes. The edge of the disc is displaced from the edge of the golf ball because, in actual use, a golfer will be located at some distance 26 along line 24 from the tee and will be looking at the golf ball at an angle.

To use the golf training tee, the tee is placed into the ground with the edge 200 of the disc facing the golfer and the X-X axis of the disc along the swing of the golfer. With the tee in position, the golfer places a golf ball on the tee and lines up his/her body and head so that only the ball is visible. The disc which is now under the ball is not visible to the golfer, it is hidden by the ball.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a golfer 502 having started his downward stroke of the swing of the golf club 504. Two rays 506 and 508 illustrated in FIG. 4 indicate the golfer's line of sight to the golf ball 114. As seen in FIG. 4, the space indicated by the arrows 510 between the two rays 506 and 508 below the golf ball is blocked by the golf ball 114 and is not visible to the golfer. Thus, the golfer cannot see the disc 108. A blowup 6 of the field of view is illustrated in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown the golfer 502 further along the downward stroke of his swing of the golf club 504. For expositional purposes, in FIG. 5, the golfer's head 512 is positioned differently from the head position of FIG. 4. The two rays 506 and 508 indicating the line of sight views to the golf ball 114 move slightly as compared to FIG. 4. This changes the space blocked 510 by the golf ball 114. A blowup 7 of the field of view is illustrated in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a blowup of the field of view of FIG. 4, when the golfer has begun the golf swing. With his head positioned according to the recommended form, the line of site rays 506 and 508 going from the golfer's eyes to the golf ball 114 blocks out a space 510 below the golf ball. As show in FIG. 6, the disc 110 is not visible to the golfer. This provides visual cues to the golfer that indicates his head is positioned according to the recommended form.

Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown a blowup of the field of view of FIG. 5, when the golfer is further along in the golf swing down stroke. In this figure, the golfer's head is not positioned in the recommended form; his head is not directly above the golf ball. The line of site ray 506 and 508 going from the golfer's eyes to the golf ball 114 blocks out a different space below the golf ball 114 than from that of FIG. 6. The space between the two arrows 510 below the golf ball indicates the blocked space for FIG. 7. As show in FIG. 7 the part of the disc 110 to the left of the ray 508 is visible. This indicates to the golfer that the swing is not following the recommend form since the disc is visible below the ball. In fact, in the situation illustrated in FIG. 7, the disc beneath the ball on the right side is not visible. The appearance of the disc on only one side of the ball provides visual cues to the golfer that his swing does not conform to the recommended form.

This golf training tee allows a golfer to train with the goal of keeping his head in the proper position aligned with the golf ball with his/her eyes looking at the golf ball. After multiple use of the device over a period of days, the golfer will be keenly aware of what it means to not see the disc under the ball. If the golfer's head is positioned correctly throughout the swing, the golfer will not see any part of the disc up to and including the strike of the golf ball. If the golfer positions his head incorrectly, he/she will see a portion of the disc which will indicate that his/her swing is incorrect. Repeated practice will provided the visual cues needed to help improve this aspect of the golfer's swing.

The golf training tee helps the golfer stay focused on the ball and gives the golfer visual cues as to whether he/she is staying square over the ball. If the golfer starts to sway away from the ball, he/she will start to see the disc under the ball and thus have the visual cue that he/she is not staying square.

The specification presented herein presents one way to implement the inventive concept. Variations to the inventive concept are considered entirely within the scope of this invention. For example, in an embodiment the disc can be a bright red, or orange or another contrasting color.

In another embodiment the disc can be an integral part of the tee.

In another embodiment the disc is attached to the top end of the tee or to the body of the tee.

In another embodiment the disc can be a snap-on addition to the tee.

In another embodiment the disc can have an opening for slidably receiving a tee and the disc can be located of the ground.

In another embodiment the disc can be made of plastic, cardboard, metal, etc.

In another embodiment the disc can be a painted circle or a circular insert on a mat with a tee permanently fixed to the mat.

In another embodiment the disc can be a painted circle or a circular insert on a mat with an opening for receiving a tee.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention and not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are entitled. 

1. A device for training a golfer to properly position the golfer's head during a golf swing comprising: a golf tee having a flared end for receiving a golf ball and a conical end for insertion into the ground; and a flat member coupled to the tee and having a size that is hidden from view by a ball on the tee as a golfer is preparing to hit the ball; wherein a golfer will not see any part of the flat member up to and including the striking of the golf ball when the golfer's head is positioned correctly throughout the swing.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the flat member is a disc.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein the disc is coupled at or below the flared end of the tee.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein the disc is eccentrically coupled to the tee.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein the disc is removably coupled to the tee.
 6. The device of claim 4 wherein the disc is permanently coupled to the tee.
 7. The device of claim 4 wherein the disc has a contrasting color.
 8. The device of claim 4 wherein the disc has a diameter of between one and one-half inches and one and one-eighth inches.
 9. A method for training a golfer to properly position his/her head during a golf swing comprises: providing a golf tee having a flared end for receiving a golf ball and a conical end for insertion into the ground; and coupling a flat member to the tee that is hidden from view by a ball on the tee as a golfer is preparing to hit the ball; wherein a golfer will not see any part of the flat member up to and including the striking of the golf ball when the golfer's head is positioned correctly throughout the swing.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the flat member is coupled at or below the flared end of the tee.
 11. The method of claim 9 wherein the flat member is a disc.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the disc is eccentrically coupled to the tee.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the disc is removably coupled to the tee.
 14. The method of claim 12 wherein the disc is permanently coupled to the tee.
 15. The method of claim 12 wherein the disc has a contrasting color.
 16. The method of claim 12 wherein the disc has a diameter of between one and one-half inches and one and one-eighth inches. 